JAMES COLE EXETER PAEDOPHILE WITH 2 MILLION IMAGES WALKS FREE IN EXETER
In a case that has shocked the community of Exeter, James Cole, a 39-year-old man with a disturbing history, was allowed to walk free from court despite possessing an astonishing collection of over two million indecent images of children.This revelation has raised serious concerns about the justice system's handling of such heinous crimes and the potential risks posed to the public.
Last year, Cole, who is known to frequent the Riverside area of Exeter and Exeter St David's train station, was found to be in possession of this vast collection of illicit material.
Despite the severity of his crimes, he continues to walk among families and children in the city, with many unaware of his criminal background.
Witnesses have noted that Cole often strolls around with his dogs, engaging with locals who pay him no suspicion, oblivious to the dark secrets he harbors.
The court proceedings from 2013 revealed that Cole had dedicated his entire life to seeking out and collecting images of young boys.
Police investigations uncovered four separate computers in his possession, which were analyzed to estimate the total number of images at approximately two million.
The detailed examination of just 2,500 images took police around 150 days, highlighting the sheer volume of material stored on his devices.
It was also disclosed that Cole had a prior conviction from Plymouth Crown Court in 2000 for importing and possessing similar material.
On that occasion, he received a sentence of three years probation.
Despite this previous conviction, Cole's current case resulted in a relatively lenient sentence, which has sparked outrage among advocacy groups and the public.
Our own website lodged a formal complaint with the UK Attorney General’s office regarding the perceived leniency, but our appeal was ultimately rejected.
In October 2013, Cole’s case was brought to light again when it was revealed that he had amassed this enormous collection of child abuse images while living as a recluse in Exeter.
His obsession reportedly began shortly after completing a sex offenders’ course, and he spent years confined to his home, feeding his disturbing fixation through the internet.
His connection to a paedophile ring, which was under police surveillance during a nationwide operation, led to his eventual arrest.
During the investigation, police found four different computers at Cole’s residence on Bonhay Road, Exeter.
The analysis of these devices confirmed the presence of approximately two million images, including photographs, graphics, drawings, and movies.
The images were predominantly of boys, with search terms such as ‘nude pre-teen boys’ indicating the disturbing nature of his collection.
Many images were duplicates across different hard drives, but the volume remained staggering.
Prosecutor Mr.
Sean Brunton explained that Cole was identified after paying £12 to a man in the Midlands who was under police surveillance for possessing indecent images.
This led authorities to raid Cole’s home and uncover his extensive collection.
The police examined the computers and found that a sample of 2,560 images contained 613 in the most severe categories, depicting boys being abused or subjected to sadistic acts.
Among the 184 movies sampled, 96 fell into these categories, with material dating from January 2003 to July 2012.
Defense lawyer Mr.
Malcolm Galloway argued that Cole had previously undergone a treatment program that temporarily halted his offending behavior.
He emphasized that advances in therapy over the past decade have made current programs more targeted and effective.
Galloway described Cole as a lonely individual who turned to the internet during periods of depression, which ultimately led to his obsession.
He stressed that Cole is not currently considered a risk to children but expressed concern about what might happen in the future.
Despite the gravity of the case, Judge Erik Salomonsen sentenced Cole to 21 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered him to participate in the Internet Sex Offenders’ Treatment Programme.
The judge justified this decision by stating that the treatment was the best way to protect the public, even though a similar program in 2000 had failed to prevent Cole’s previous offending.
The judge also imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which allows police to monitor Cole’s computer activity and restrict contact with minors.
Judge Salomonsen highlighted the disturbing nature of Cole’s obsession, noting that his reclusive lifestyle and extensive collection of illegal images demonstrated a deep-seated problem.
He emphasized that children are victims in these crimes, and the creation of such images involves their abuse.
The judge expressed concern that imprisonment alone might not address the root causes of Cole’s behavior but acknowledged that the public’s safety was paramount.
In conclusion, Cole’s case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and judicial authorities in dealing with individuals who possess and seek out child abuse images.
His case remains a stark reminder of the importance of vigilant monitoring and the need for effective intervention programs to prevent future offenses.
